abbot of Thélème

The Abbey of Thélème was presented to Friar John by Gargantua, who built it as a reward for his assistance in the defeat of King Picrochole[1]. Friar John desired his religious order to be exactly contrary to all others, so he had the Abbey built without walls and without clocks. He decreed that there should be no women where there were no men, and no men where there were no women; and instead of the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, he decreed that anyone could marry, get rich, and live at liberty. The rules contained one clause: “Do what you will” (“Fay ce que vouldras”).

How Gargantua caused to be built for the Monk the
Abbey of Thelema

There remained only the Monk to provide for, whom Gargantua wished to make Abbot of a Seuille, but he refused it. He wished to give him the Abbey of Bourgueil or Saint-Florent, which would suit him better, or both if it pleased him; but the Monk gave him a decided Answer that over Monks he would have no Charge or Government.

“For how,” said he, ” should I be able to govern others, when I cannot govern myself? If you think that I have done you acceptable Service, or that in the Future I can do so, give me leave to found an Abbey after my own Device.”

The Request pleased Gargantua, and he offered him all the Country of Theleme by the River Loire to within two leagues of the great Forest of Port-Huault The Monk then requested Gargantua to institute his religious Order in a Manner exactly opposite to that of all others.